Improvement in horse-collar fastenings



w @ALES WHEELERJ lmprovement in Horse CoHarFastvenngs.

N0. 20,356. Patented Oct. 24,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

OALEB WHEELER7 OF WARSAW, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-COLLAR FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,356, dated October24, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB WHEELER, of Warsaw, in the county of Coshoctonand State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Horse-CollarFastenings, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a lon gitudinalvertical section, and Fig. 2 is a top view.

This invention relates to a pair of folding curved metal plates hingedat their ends to the extremities of a collar open at the top, the upperof said plates having one or more transverse slots, and the lower platebeing provided with lugs springing from its upper side which enter oneof the aforesaid slots when both plates are folded down, thus fasteningthe two branches ofthe collar to-- gether, said lower plate being alsoprovided with a double spring-plate, which both assists in rais ing theupper plate when released from the lower and also eases the downwardpressure of the haines on the horses neck.

Referring to the drawing, a b are the extremities of the collar, towhich are hinged the curved metalplatescd. Thishin ging is effected bymeans of staples e placed in eyes f formed at the inner ends of theplates, the legs of said staples being passed through the collar-piecesa b and bent toward each other against the under sides of the same. Asteel plate, g, is riveted at one end to the under side of the lowerplate c. Along the back of the plate g is fastened a strip, h, which isbent around the outer end of the plate c, the iieXure occupying a notchin the plate. The branch h of the strip h lies on the upper side of theplate c, standing o therefrom at a slight angle. The spring h assists inthrowing up the plate d when released from the plate c, and the spring heases the downward pressure of the haines on the animals neck. The plateg forms a bridge between the ends of the collar-pieces a b. The plate dhas one or more slots, i, and the plate o is furnished with a pair oflugs7 j, springing from its upper side. When the plate d is folded downon the plate c the lugs j pass through one or the other of the slots i,according to the size ofthe aniinals neck. The lugs j have notches intheir rear sides into which the edge of the plate l slips, and by meansof which it is fastened. The back edges of the slots i are beveled olfon the under side of the plate d so as to allow the upper plate toeasily slip up from the lower one when the lugs j are pressed againstsaid beveled edges, thus facilitating the separation of the two platesshould the spring h happen to be inoperative. The lugs j also form aguard to prevent the haines from slipping off from the collar. Thefolding back of the plates is a great advantage, as it rendersunnecessary the stretching apart of the branches of the collar whichwould otherwise have to be done, and which would seriously injure thecollar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. rllhe collar-pieces a b. combined with the hinged folding plates c d,as specified.

2. The plate c, combined with the plate g, -springs h h', and lugs j, asdescribed. y

GALEB WHEELER.

Witnesses:

SoLoN G. KEMoN, Guns. A. PETTIT. (la)

